The Tribulations of Honesty – Part 5

Tonight Lexie actually wished that she could drink like Archie undoubtedly was. But she couldn't, she was pregnant with buggerlugs.
Stevie had used that word so many times in reference to their unborn child that they found that they too had subconsciously taken it on board and often used the Australian expression as well. Archie had once made the comment that if that ended up being their second child's name, it was all Steve's fault.
Lexie smiled at the bitter sweet memory, then tried to push it out of her mind as she took another sip of the cup of tea that Teena had made her. She glanced up and saw her friend watching her intently. Lexie had told her the whole story of how Archie had gone to Nepal with Lizzie and left her at Glenbogle.
She had also told her all about Paul too, and how he had been there for her and helped to support her. He had said things to her that Archie hadn't said in a long time, things that made her feel better, special…. feel loved.
Lexie had seen that Paul as attracted to her, but had chosen to ignore it at the start. It was just a crush; she was his sister-in-law after all. There was no way that anything could grow from it, and besides- she was happily married. It was only after Archie had gone away that she had started to actually reciprocate the feelings.
She could see Archie in him, and she was missing her husband terribly. They were both aware of their growing feelings, but fought desperately to keep them at bay. There had been moments, but that had been all that they were.
Lexie liked to know that she could still attract a man, as selfish as it sounded, it made her feel important- she craved the attention. But in the end Archie had come first, and she had made that clear to Paul. It was Archie she wanted, not him.
Then Archie had come home and she was so happy that she forgot about everything except having him back. Paul had gone away for a year and she had fallen pregnant with Melanie. By this time she had forgotten that she'd ever had feelings for her brother-in-law. Her family was her life.
Teena broke through her recollections
" Do you have photos?"
" What?" Lexie asked, wondering what the hell photos had to do with anything
" Yeah, photos of Glenbogle, Paul everything. I want to see it all." Teena explained
" Um, yeah sure. They're in our bedroom."
" Let's go have a search." Teena announced, taking Lexie's hand and leading her up the stairs
It didn't take long to track down the box that they were looking for. It was in the cupboard with countless other things that they had brought from Glenbogle and not yet found a place for in their suburban house.
Lexie lifted the lid and peered inside, a grin lifting the corners of her lips
" This brings back so many memories." Lexie whispered, fingering the first photo album before opening its pages to transport them back to the estate in the Scottish highlands.
Teena grabbed the second album and stretched out on Archie and Lexie's queen sized bed. She flipped the pages with much ooooing and ahhhing.
" I've seen this one," She acknowledged, holding at the album to reveal photos of their wedding
" Yes, that's our wedding photo. It's in the hall downstairs, and on the desk at the restaurant." Lexie commented, going back to the album she was flicking through
" That's your wedding? Very casual wasn't it?" Teena inquired, turning the page
" Yes, it was a bit unexpected. But thoroughly romantic, just what I wanted in the end." Lexie explained
" Owww Lex these photos are sweet. Where's this?"
Lexie glanced up again, placing her album on the floor and climbing up onto the bed with Teena
" That's our honeymoon." Lexie grinned, " It was magnificent."
" Looks it you lucky bugger" Teena whistled
Lexie raised her eyebrows, " You've been around Stevie too long"
Teena laughed, " You know you don't even notice after a bit"
Lexie smiled and waited for her to turn the page
" Is that Paul?" Teena asked, taking in the tall, well-defined man on the next page
" Yes" Lexie confirmed, " That's him."

Ooh ooh
The grass ain't always green
And if it's hurting you
You know that's its hurting me
You know that's its hurting me
' If it's Hurting You', Robbie Williams
Archie made sure he got the next round of drinks so that it would actually be something that he liked. Stevie hadn't had much to say after Archie's confession of why Lexie and he weren't getting along.
'What was there to say?' Archie wondered as he balanced the drinks the best he could and made the precarious journey back to the booth
He made it- just, and watched as the other men took their drinks and swigged them down. Archie moved his to the side and placed his head on the cool surface of the table, he didn't want to do this. He wanted to be at home in bed with Lexie, knowing that Melanie was in the room down the hall and that his unborn child was safe and healthy between them.
Thoughtfully he took his wedding ring off his finger and placed it next to his drink. Stevie watched him pensively; although he had had nearly twice as much beer as Archie he was still as alert as ever.
" Hey mate, don't do that" He insisted, taking the ring from the table and handing it back to its owner
Archie shook his head; " I just don't want to wear it right now Steve."
Stevie regarded him uncertainly, "Are you sure?"
Archie nodded, " I can't handle it all right now."
Stevie raised his eyebrows, " Hey mate, we all have barneys every so often. You shouldn't make any snap decisions when you're pissed and knackered. Let's get you home."
Archie sat back and stared at him, " I trusted them. I trusted Paul to look after her while I was away, and I trusted Lex to be faithful."
" And she was mate. She said she'd had feelings, but she didn't act on them. Give her some credit."
" How do I know she didn't act on them? How can I even trust her now?" Archie asked
Stevie inclined his head towards him, " How long have you two been married?"
" Nearly eight years" Archie calculated
" Do you love her?"
" Of course I bloody do" Archie dismissed, " But that's beside the point"
" Is it?" Stevie asked, finishing off another beer
Archie regarded him thoughtfully, before downing the remaining liquid in his glass and gradually getting to his feet.
" Let's go"
" Fine, I'm zonked anyway" Stevie answered, reaching for his jacket
" Can I stay at your place?" Archie asked, once they had hailed a taxi
Steve searched the other man's face before agreeing tentatively " Okay"
Archie nodded and rested his head on the taxi window, closing his eyes. Stevie watched him and wondered how Teena was doing with Lexie. Slowly he reached into his pocket and drew out Archie's wedding ring, holding it between his fingers he gazed at it and wondered how the story would end.

'With this ring you will be mine
With this ring I'll multiply
With this ring surrendering to you
What's a boy to do?'
- 'Disenchanted Lullaby', The Foo Fighters